So far only Michele Bachmann and Newt Gingrich have scheduled appearances in Iowa this week, but with Thanksgiving out of the way, and the caucuses now just five weeks off, the calendar could get crowded quickly.

• Newt Gingrich attends a Polk County Republican Party event on Thursday in Johnston.

Note: Candidates frequently announce visits or change schedules on short notice. Keep up to date on where you can see the candidates by checking our candidate calendar at Des MoinesRegister.com/caucus, or use our Iowa caucuses iPhone app.

ELSEWHERE THIS WEEK

Mike Huckabee, winner of the 2008 Iowa Republican caucuses and now a Fox News personality, will host a forum with this cycle’s candidates at Fox’s New York studios on Saturday. According to the New York Times, five candidates had confirmed as of last week: Michelle Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

CAMPAIGN WHO’S WHO:

Nathan Arnold, 21, Centennial, Colo.

Title: Unpaid intern for the Rick Santorum campaign.

What he does: Arnold’s job includes data entry and making phone calls to potential caucusgoers and Santorum campaign supporters.

Education: He’s a senior studying political science and psychology at Drake University in Des Moines.

Why politics? “I’ve been interested in politics since the 2008 election, and particularly presidential politics because it was such an exciting campaign in 2008,” he said. Success by Santorum in the 2012 caucuses would validate Arnold’s decision to go to college here, he said. “It would show that Iowa has the power to give a podium to what was a no-name candidate. (Volunteering for the campaign) is a good way to use my power as an Iowan,” being able to participate in the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

From the campaign trail

When a woman asked Mitt Romney during an appearance in Des Moines Wednesday what distinguishes him from the rest of the Republican field, the former Massachusetts governor bypassed his executive experience and business acumen and emphasized instead his spouse: “The most extraordinary wife in the world,” he said.

He lauded his wife, Ann, for keeping him on track and for courageously fighting through multiple sclerosis and breast cancer. “She’s a fighter, and my hero,” he said.

It provided a nice moment, but raised a couple of questions: Is a great spouse a distinguishing feature for a presidential candidate? And are the other candidates’ spouses merely ordinary?

— Tony Leys

QUOTABLE

Mitt Romney has campaigned relatively sparingly in Iowa this year, which has made Gov. Terry Branstad and other observers wonder how serious he is about seeking support in the caucuses. Romney vowed in October to come here “again and again,” but seemed less certain on Wednesday, his first Iowa visit in more than two weeks.

When a reporter asked when he’d be back in Iowa, Romney looked at his staff and shrugged: “I go where I’m told to go,” he said.